A favorite INTJ productivity tool

Thursday August 11, 2016

TL;DR: It’s a simple wristwatch that has a vibrating alarm/timer.

Right now my favorite INTJ productivity tool, aside from plain-text editor software, is this Casio W735H-1AVCF wristwatch (non-affiliate links here people). It comes in several colors, and Casio also makes some G-Shock models with the vibration function.

Which leads me to why I like this watch.

It vibrates. And it has a timer that can be pre-set to whatever interval you want. The timer won’t auto-continue after the time is up, but a single button press restarts the timer.

The vibrating timer on my arm for about $25 USD has been a huge productivity helper. Here’s what I use it for:

Example: When talking to an ESFJ, it becomes my reminder, every few minutes, to stop talking about myself and my thoughts, to empathize, to listen to cries for help in feeler-terms. To ask about details.

Oh BTW, one of my ESFJ friends mistook this watch for a G-Shock, which I thought was pretty cool.

I did not actually correct him, either

I do own a few G-Shocks but I use this watch way more, so that’s cool

Any other framework-related item

Like in my deadline framework, this watch reminds me every 10 minutes that I am working on a deadline.

This means it’s easy to take a break for 10 minutes, guilt-free.

This also means that when I get too distracted, only 10 minutes will pass, max, before I’m reminded of that fact.

Measurement of my day

Has it been a lot of vibrations since I got something done?

OK, time to refer back to my framework for getting things done, or to refine the framework somehow.

OK, so at least the $25 gets me that far.

Oooh, and I almost forgot: I really like the “Super Illuminator” light. It’s easily my favorite of all the lighting options on watches these days. The whitish light color is so…neutral. Who knew two little LEDs could bring such pleasure.

I realize that A) it’s dangerous to talk about tools with INTJs because all INTJs, practically from birth, Wish to Be Consulted About Productivity Tools and Getting Things Done. It’s just part of who we are. Inferior Se makes us very keenly aware of how much impact we’re having on the world, how much stuff we’re getting done. If there’s a way to get more done, we either already know about it or we want to know about it. (We also tend to repress an inner slouch who gets nothing done, ever. “The slouch is after us! Aaah, run! Work harder! Don’t stop!”)

Also B) I realize that phones can vibrate, they have apps, they have Pomodoro Timers with Advanced Features, and so on. Well, that’s fine but it’s not working for me at the moment. And I know there are smart watches that do other stuff too. I really like the novelty of this particular watch, I guess. The vibration is so subtle, the mechanism so simple. I’ve tried using apps on my phone and still do sometimes, so what the future holds, I don’t know.

Anyway, fun to talk about the tools a bit.

Oh, and BTW this talking countdown timer is freakin’ awesome too. I use it for exercise all the time. THIRTYSECONDS. TWENTYSECONDS. TEN. NINE. EIGHT… see? It’s like back when you worked for NASA, exercising on the Space Shuttle. Although they apparently use a slightly different model of kitchen timer. And they wear…business suits in space, that I didn’t know about.

Hi, I’m Marc Carson. This my psychology blog, where I write about Jungian type theory, typology, and type development for INTJs. I focus mainly on the INTJ personality type, though a lot of people of various types visit to learn about their INTJ friends and family members.

All types are welcome here, and I don’t believe that any personality type is better than the others.

Aside from my main day job as a website development business owner, I also own a life & career coaching business. I am certified in the assessment of psychological type and administration of restricted psychometric instruments by the Breckenridge Institute. I’m also a member of APTi, the Association for Psychological Type International. I have given presentations on personality type to large and small audiences.

If you’re interested in expanding your INTJ gifts, read my new book, Gifts of the Intuitive Theorist: 300 INTJ Strengths to Try. It ought to be a valuable investment if you’re looking to expand your potential and discover new strengths, or recover from burnout and develop a more enjoyable life. A sample PDF is available, as are some production notes on putting it together.

Coaching for INTJs

I offer career, life, and performance coaching for INTJs. If you are ready to accelerate your personal growth, or just need to regain control of your life, get in touch.

My coaching business contact information and intake form are available at the Marc Carson Coaching website.

The study of personality type has transformed me, literally and figuratively. I lost 100 pounds, over 35% of my body weight, by applying the principles I learned during my study of psychological type.

After reaching a healthy weight for the first time in my adult life, I realized a new level of happiness created by deep psychological change, rather than weight loss alone. From that time forward, I began to apply what I learned to other areas of my life. The result has been a fascinating journey toward the discovery and application of my strengths.

Get in Touch

If what you find here is useful to you, I’d love to hear about it. If you’d like to see your INTJ question or favorite topic covered here, let me know. My Email Address is: Marc@MarcCarsonCoaching.com